Toy



June 20, 1944. HOOVER 2,351,762

- I TOY Filed March 4, 1942 Zmnentor FRANK M How ER u' y W attorneyPatented June 20, 1944 OFFICE TOY Frank M. Hoover, Youngstown, OhioApplication March 4, 1942, Serial N 0. 433,273

3 Claims.

' This invention relates to toys, and more particularly is concernedwith a toy in the form of a ball having means movably associated withthe inside of the ball.

It is the general object of my invention to provide an interesting andnovel toy for babies and young children and including a transparenthollow ball having a roly poly positioned freely inside of the ball.

Another object of my invention is to provide .a hollow transparent body,such as a ball, having a figure positioned freely inside and simulatinga desired object, and with the figure being provided with a shape and/orwith means for automatically bringing the figure to a vertical positionafter rolling movement of the body is stopped or substantially stopped.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an unusual and highlyinteresting roller-type toy for children.

The foregoing and other objects of my invention are achieved by theprovision of a toy comprising a hollow substantially spherical ball oftransparent relatively thin material, a figure simulating a desiredobject and positioned freely inside of the ball and of less verticalheight than the inside diameter of the ball, and a weight carried in thebase of the figure so that the figure will always stand substantiallyvertically when the ball is at rest.

For a better understanding of my invention reference should be had tothe accompanying drawing wherein the single figure illustrates in sideelevation a typical embodiment of my invention.

In the drawing, the numeral I indicates generally a hollow substantiallyspherical ball of transparent material. It will be understood that thetransparent material for the ball may be any one of a wide variety ofcolorless transparent plastics, for example, Celluloid, celluloseacetate, or other cellulose derivatives, casein, rubber, formaldehyde orother base plastics.

The ball [0 may be made in a Wide variety of ways, but is preferablymade in two parts joined together in a substantially diametrical plane,and with the parts having an inter-engaging male and female joint,indicated specifically by the numeral Ill. The two parts of the ball IIIare preferably secured together by a thermoplastic or by athermo-setting plastic cement which will firmly hold the parts of theball together throughout the normal operating life of the ball. Theplastic cement employed to hold the parts of the ball together will, ofcourse, be

applied to the joint l2 in the manner that-will be well understood bythose skilled in the art.

Positioned inside of the ball I0 is a figure or object, indicated as awhole by the numeral I4, which may be made to simulate any desiredobject or figure, and which is so constructed that the figure I4 willautomatically position itself substantially vertically when the ball I0is at rest, or is substantially at rest. In other-words, the figure l4takes the form of a roly poly, and the use of the term roly poly in boththis specification and in the claims, is intended to cover such objectsor figures that when knocked over will automatically position themselvesvertically because of a round base and a relatively heavy weight carriedtherein.

The roly poly illustrated in the drawing simulates a human figure, suchas a clown, and I preferably construct my roly poly in this manner.However, I contemplate making the roly poly to simulate an animal, forexample, certain of the figures rendered popular in comics or animatedcartoons. The roly poly illustrated in the drawing includes asubstantially spherical body portion [6 joined to a substantiallyspherical head portion [8, and the body and head of the roly poly arepreferably made of relatively light weight material, and may be madehollow. The exact details of the shape and construction of the roly polyare unimportant so far as my invention is concerned as long as the baseof the body of the roly poly is substantially spherical and the verticalheight of the roly poly is less, or is considerably less, than theinside diameter of the ball In. In order to automatically position theroly poly in an upright position a relatively heavy weight 20 is securedin or is carried by the base of the roly poly. Or the base of the rolypoly may be made of extra thickness to serve as the weight. The rolypoly is ordinarily positioned freely inside of the ball [0, i. e. it isnot secured in any manner to the ball. However, at least certain of theadvan tages of the invention are retained when the roly poly is securedinside of the ball.

In the use of the toy or my invention the ball can be rolled along thefloor, table, bed or other surface, and during the rolling of the ballthe roly poly will tumble head-over-heels inside of the ball to thedelight and amusement of the child handling or seeing the toy. Theweight 20 may be sufiiciently heavy so that the ball will have aneccentric unbalanced movement which is often unusual and interesting. Inany event, as the ball I0 begins to slow up the weight 20 functions tobring the roly poly to an upright vertical position inside of the balland exerts an unusual and entertaining braking action on the ball whichwill bring the ball to a shuddering or jerking stop, if the weight ismade sufiieiently heavy, and will leave the roly poly'rocking somewhatdrunkenly inside of the ball but in complete control of the ball and tothe amusement and entertainment of the onlooker.

From the foregoing it will berecognized that the objects of my inventionhave been achieved by the provision of an intersecting and an unusualtoy which has particular appeal to younger children. The toy whenproperly constructed has an almost indefinite life inasmuch as there areno parts to Wear out or to become disconnected due to use. By making theroly poly figure [4 to simulate an odd, laughable, or other characterand in bright colors and with the roly poly figure being readily visiblefrom all directions through the transparent ball cover a par- 7ticularly interesting and entertaining toy is provided.

I will'be recognized that many of the features and advantages of myinvention will be retained if the ball I0 is made in the form of acylinder or other body which Will roll, and the term roller-body asemployed in the claims is intended to include any and all bodies whichwill roll whether round, cylindrical, polygonal or the like.

While in accordance with the patent statutes I have specifica1lyillustrated and described my invention, it should be understood that Iam not to be limited thereto or thereby, but that the scope of myinvention is defined in the appended transparent material and havingsubstantially smooth and unobstructed inner and outer surfaces, and aroly poly figure positioned within the ball and of less vertical heightand less transverse extent in all directions than the internal diameterof the ball, said figure being free for independent universal rolling,tumbling and teetering movements in the ball and about its inner surfacewhen the ball or rocked or rolled and having a rounded base for contactwith the inner surface of the ball and to adapt it to stand uprighttherein when the ball is stationary, and a weight disposed at the baseof the figure and tending to hold it normally upright and to norma11ymaintain its base in frictional engagement with the internal surface ofthe ball and to hold the latter from rolling movement, said weightedbase operating when the ball is rolled to cause an irregular rollingmotion of the ball and operating when the ball is rocked or is about tocome to a stop on a rolling motion to exert a braking effect on theball, whereby wabbly or like eccentric motions are concurrently impartedboth to the ball and figure at the ends of such rocking or rollingmotions thereof.

2. A toy comprising a hollow, substantially spherical ball oftransparent material having a substantially smooth outer periphery, anda roly poly positioned freely inside of the ball, said roly poly havinga height greater than about onehalf of the diameter of the ball.

3. A toy comprising a hollow spherical ball of transparent material, anda roly poly figure positioned within the ball and of less verticalheight and less transverse extent in all directions than the internaldiameter of the ball, said figure being free for independent rolling,tumbling and teetering movements in the ball when the ball is rocked orrolled.

FRANK M HOOVER.

